Soaring USA gift certificate (Strega purchase?)

[Konrad]

Doc,
I agree with most of what you are saying. I'll try to piece back together My Yellow and Black Strega for the last race in October. I will finish the Red and White one just to keep some sort of consistency in my development as a pilot.

I'll have to ask Wayne about the VV Sonets as I don't see them on the site.

I have to say I like the price point of your RedShift. I do have a concern about the "V" tail size. While the smaller wetted area may result in more speed (that is the object of this game). I'm concerned about the stall recovery with such small V tails. How have the flight reports been about the stall and post stall recovery?

All the best,
Konrad

 

[Doc James Hammond]

Doc,
I agree with most of what you are saying. I'll try to piece back together My Yellow and Black Strega for the last race in October. I will finish the Red and White one just to keep some sort of consistency in my development as a pilot.

I'll have to ask Wayne about the VV Sonets as I don't see them on the site.

I have to say I like the price point of your RedShift. I do have a concern about the "V" tail size. While the smaller wetter area may result in more speed (that is the object of this game). I'm concerned about the stall recovery with such small V tails. How have the flight reports been about the stall and post stall recovery?

All the best,
Konrad

Hi Konrad, I made the tailbone the low side of what was stable.

This was done on purpose because I wanted the agility.

However, I would make it a bit larger if I did it again - which I might, but not this year anyway as I'm still in financial recovery from the China debacle.

As is, the model flies well and no problems with stall recovery, and in any case its not that easy to stall inadvertently because the tips are not influenced by the ailerons.

Its especially docile on the landing and slows down well.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[jvaliensi]

I flew in the F3F race in SoCal yesterday. Freestylers' rule the sky. However there where a couple fast Pike Precessions flying too. I think the difference between getting a Freestyler and something way cheaper is the same a buying a Snap-On tool vs the same from Harbor Freight. Sure the cheap tool works okay for a while, but at some point the frustration of using a poorly made tool makes the Snap-On look cheaper.
I've noticed the better models are a lot stronger and don't break so easily.
I was flying my much abused Tomcat EVO (if it was a dog, it would whimper and piss it self any time it saw me). I was having a good time, when the right flap servo went nuts. I saw full down flap in a base A turn. I couldn't trust it so I quit after 5 rounds.

 

[Konrad]

Hi Konrad, I made the tailbone the low side of what was stable.

This was done on purpose because I wanted the agility.

However, I would make it a bit larger if I did it again - which I might, but not this year anyway as I'm still in financial recovery from the China debacle.

As is, the model flies well and no problems with stall recovery, and in any case its not that easy to stall inadvertently because the tips are not influenced by the ailerons.

Its especially docile on the landing and slows down well.

Cheers,

Doc.

Love auto correct!

It's been brought to my attention that Strega actually flipped over on her back on one of my landings. That may have been what cracked the stab mount. True, it looked like a gentle flip and post landing inspection didn't show anything loose. But I now can't say for sure that the stab mount broke in mid flight.

All the best,
Konrad

 

[Doc James Hammond]

I flew in the F3F race in SoCal yesterday. Freestylers' rule the sky. However there where a couple fast Pike Precessions flying too. I think the difference between getting a Freestyler and something way cheaper is the same a buying a Snap-On tool vs the same from Harbor Freight. Sure the cheap tool works okay for a while, but at some point the frustration of using a poorly made tool makes the Snap-On look cheaper.
I've noticed the better models are a lot stronger and don't break so easily.
I was flying my much abused Tomcat EVO (if it was a dog, it would whimper and piss it self any time it saw me). I was having a good time, when the right flap servo went nuts. I saw full down flap in a base A turn. I couldn't trust it so I quit after 5 rounds.

I think it's the pilot that makes the real difference, James.

Cheers,

Doc.

 

[Konrad]

As much as I'd like to piss on the RCRCM Tomcat, a failed servo sounds like an issue outside the control of RCRCM.

Yep, but I hate to take a grinder or gas axe to my Snap-On tools just for some odd fitting clearance issue some engineer forgot to take into account.

Right now I need to learn how to read the air, maintain energy through the turns and land at the Slot! That last point is hell on airframes. Snap-On tools are tools for the professional and often lost on shade tree mechanics. Much could be said of me and nicer F3F ships.

All the best,
Konrad

 

[Konrad]

Those of you following along with this ordeal might be under the impression that I think Strega is the devil incarnate. There maybe some truth in that! But I’d like to think I'm a rational enough of a man to understand when things are self induced. For example I tore the flap live hinge when landing backward with the flaps deployed.

This drives me to ask how do you guys repair live hinges? In this case I’m thinking of making a silicone hinge. Is this advisable? And is there a link to a process you would use?


All the best,
Konrad

 

[Konrad]

Seeing how poorly the fuselage of my Yellow Strega is performing I decided to do a preemptive repair to my white Strega.

If one talks to a structural engineer they will all tell you that paint makes a horrible structure. So I sanded off the white paint to give my carbon patch something solid to adhere.

As I’ve come to expect from RCRCM I see in painful detail how they engineered the fuse to perform so poorly!

If there is one take away from this thread it should be DON’T BUY RCRCM PRODUCTS!

Friends don't let friends buy RCRCM products,
Konrad

 

[Wayne]

That does look to be designed to fail. Nice feature - NOT.

Yep a glue hinge will get you back to running. Only need a tiny bead of glue, too much and they get really stiff. I'll let you research on the glue options as there are many. I have used a range of different glues and sealants and they seem to work about the same for me. I use a similar method on foam planes when I tear their hinges, but use foam tac or similar. I want to say that the DS guys tend to use E2000?? Could be remembering that 100% wrong. I recall using a tube of tub and tile caulk I had sitting in my garage for an old slope ship for the first set I did, and it lasted years until I passed the plane off to a buddy. As I recall that caulk got stiffer with age.. Not ideal.

 

[Jonathan Wells]

3M5200FC is used by the DS guys, it's good stuff.

 

[Wayne]

There you go. Thanks Jonathan!

 

[jvaliensi]

If I would have started F3F with one of the same models that the experienced & fast guys use, my learning curve would be less steep. I'm still on the steep part of the curve and have become somewhat paranoid.
Using the popular models the fast guys like would have:
1. Set up would be known,
2. The aircraft selection has been weeded out, low performers or difficult to fly models are not used by the fast guys,
3. Our group in SoCal is free with advice (really nice guys), so having the same ship as they do removes some questions, and the learning would be quicker.

The risk seems higher with the more expensive planes, but perhaps the above would mitigate it and I would have been better off.

The landings at Grass Mountain were like aircraft carrier landings in rough seas. Not a single one was what I'd call smooth. However, there airplanes took the abuse without failure. My Tomcat would have been toast.
I've seen Chip launch a FS5 off a 300ft cliff with the radio off, it lawn-darted into the beach below. He needed help pulling it out because it was buried so deep. But it was fixed and flying the next week. Very little damage.

 

[Konrad]

As far as F3F guys, Strega, and myself I've had a blast flying and learning to fly F3F these last 4 outings. Set up (radio programing) has been a breeze as just about every one I fly with has suffered through the Strega at one time or other. As to the performance from Strega she has NOT been limiting my speed. My times have been dropping rather quickly. In 4 races my times have been dropping from the high 60's low 70's into the low 50's and knocking real hard on 49 seconds high 40's .

As I've repeatedly said I'm not as of yet equipment limited when it comes to speed. The only reason I'm not in the mid to low 40's is because of MY flying skills.

I too have abused my Strega with the landings. I credit my Strega holding up as well as she has to my reengineering many of the shortcoming I saw in her construction. For example I added a full length servo tray, large ballast tube fastened down its full length to the bottom of the fuselage. Added glass and carbon fibers across the fuselage part line. Adding epoxy the wing and tail feather part line (LE).

I will say that I have not missed a heat or race because of Strega. I credit Strega for much of this as I wouldn't have thrown any of the higher dollars ship off the cliffs in many of the wind condition I through this cheep sow's ear. What damage she has suffered and shown has always been repaired in time for the next race.

Strega would have made a fine F3F trainer if the manufacture RCRCM had an ounce of conscience and added just a bit (any) quality control to her manufacture. Strega as delivered from RCRCM is unsuitable for sport flying.

Now as a model builder most of these quality issues have been addressed sufficiently enough that for speeds into the 40's and maybe even lower Strega is not the "rate limiting step". (To be clear my poor times are as a result of my poor flying).

Strega at $535 delivered (taxes and shipping covered) she has been just what I needed. But to get her to work one needs to understand and be able to repair composite structures. This should not be a requirement to own an RCRCM product or to race an RCRCM product, unfortunately it is.

I'm happy to learn all I can about F3F racing from my 2 Stregas'. But I've also learned that RCRCM is not a vendor I'd be happy to work with when it comes to making more of a commitment to F3F racing. Heck I don't think I could tollerate their quality even in my sport ships.

$1100 for 2 F3F ships was great for getting my feet wet in F3F. I think I'd have quit F3F if I had damaged a $2700 for a single F3F ship learning to land a full ballasted F3F ship at Thornton Beach. My learning curve would have stopped had that happened.

While the airframe that is Strega is junk. For me I think I made the right choose trying to get this pig* to fly. I actually had fun trying to do my best to foil the efforts of RCRCM to ground my Stregas'

I post what I've learned about Strega to help anybody else that follows me. I will say that unless one knows how to repair poorly constructed models. Strega regardless of her cost in not worth the cost for the average modeler.

Now if one knows how to repair and make composite ships Strega might be suitable for a season of F3F racing, while one hones one's flying skills.

Later this winter I'll be in the market for a $1300 F3F ship. If I see a performance improvement with this ship over my 2 Stregas' then I might start to look real hard at the $2K+ F3F ships. But right now a $2K+ ship is wasted on me. As I know I can't extract the performance potential that might be lurking in the $2K+ ship. I say this as I know I haven't tapped all the performance from the two $500 Stregas' I currently own.

*To be honest the term "pig" in this case, should be given to both Strega and I.

All the best,
Konrad

P.S.
Ops, Strega has handed me a 48 second F3F speed run.

 

[Konrad]

Found some 3M 5200FC. I like that it is a polyurethane as apposed to silicone. This might mean I should be able to paint it.

I have a concern that the tube said the shelf life in the tube is only 24 hours after the seal has been broken. If this is true, this will be an expensive repair of the hinge.

 

[Jonathan Wells]

I put the tube in a sealed food bag and pop it in the freezer.

 

[Konrad]

Thanks, Have you noticed that the stuff goes off in the tube rather quickly?

Thanks,
Konrad

 

[Jonathan Wells]

Yep, It sure does

 

[Konrad]

Like I said earlier I’m not sure what Doc saw with his reply in post #72

Soaring USA gift certificate (Strega purchase?)

Ok, Hank here is what I’ve done to repair the wing. I opened up the seam with tooth picks. I then forced an epoxy Cab-O-Sil mixture into the seam with a broken APC prop blade. Clean up the overage with an alcohol soaked rag. Tape the seam shut. Place the wing with the seam down so that anything...

forum.alofthobbies.com

But now looking at the failed stab receptacles there was an issue! I don’t think Doc could actually see the issue with the photo I posted in post#70. I think he just knew there were issues with the construction.

Much to my horror I find that there are no fibers going across the stabilizer receptacle and the fuselage joint giving support. All that I’ve found are some glue blobs. And these actually have very little contact area joining the stab joiner to the fuselage side.

Again this is unconscionable of RCRCM! It would have been so much easier to add a layer of glass across the receptacle before joining the fuselage sides together. Heck, even adding some chopped fibers would have helped a lot in gaining some strength for this critical flight control joint!

Yep, you guessed it. The White and Red Strega has the same build issues, maybe even worse!

Friends don't let friends buy RCRCM products,
Konrad

 

[jvaliensi]

RCRCM website has been down for a while, I guess they lost there last customer

 

[Konrad]

RCRCM website has been down for a while, I guess they lost there last customer

LOL, We can only hope I'm their last victim!